Best Grand Rapids Playgrounds Listed by Amenity and/or Location

Kids love parks. And as a parent, I do too. My kids get to be outside and explore and be active. And all of this entertainment is usually FREE. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Amazing parks are everywhere in West Michigan. You’ll find some tucked away in the corners of neighborhoods, others are in urban settings near downtown, and there is even a lakeshore park on our list with awesome views of Lake Michigan! Plus so many more.

Welcome to our Parents, Parks and Coffee series where we highlight destination parks all over West Michigan, and help you find coffee to fuel your next adventure. Many thanks to BIGGBY for partnering with us on this smile-making project.

West Michigan’s Favorite Parks and Playgrounds

Earlier this year, parents voted on their favorite places to play and live life in greater Grand Rapids in our GRANDTASTIC AWARDS. Parents told us which parks they love to visit with their families and the winners of these GRANDTASTIC AWARDS are noted with our Grandtastic logo- look for this item in the list to find them easily:

Read on to see which parks are Grandtastic – and leave us a comment about your favorites below.

Top Grand Rapids Playgrounds Grouped by Amenity

If you’re seeking a particular park perk, this is the list for you. We will continue to add parks to these lists, so check back regularly for updates!

Top Greater Grand Rapids Parks and Playgrounds by Location

ADA

Ada Township Park (Grand River Dr. & Buttrick Ave) This 57 acre park is a family favorite because of its playground for little toddlers and big kids! The park also has a fun fishing pond (restricted to those under 12, senior citizens or physically challenged individuals), softball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, and paved and unpaved trails. There are plenty of grills and picnic tables in the two gazebos and pavilion to make it a great picnic spot.

Leonard Park (7490 Thornapple River Dr.) This is a small riverside park that is home to Ada’s covered bridge. The park is great for a picnic on a blanket, is within walking distance of the quaint town of Ada, and is connected to a bike path. Remember this park in the winter when they flood the softball field to make an ice rink!

Roselle Park (1010 Grand River Dr. NE) There are 240 acres of land along the Grand River here, and this nature preserve has a wonderful paved trail that is perfect for strollers, jogging, and yes, little kids on bikes. Silos with an outdoor rock climbing wall are sure to be a hit with little climbing enthusiasts.

Reeds Lake Trail (2205 Reeds Lake Blvd East Grand Rapids, MI 49506) Just because there isn’t a playground doesn’t mean that it can’t be fun! This park is located on the waterfront of Reeds Lake and includes board walks, docks, and benches. It’s the perfect place to sit and relax… after, you’ve walked or rode your bike on the Reeds Lake Trail! The trail is a 4.2 mile loop that scrolls around Reeds Lake through wooded areas, wetlands, and residential areas with several opportunities to stop and catch your breath on benches.

FERRYSBURG

North Beach Park Hidden away in the small town of Ferrysburg is a family-friendly beach and dune hike just waiting to be discovered. Playground, life jackets and a wooden staircase up the dunes are just a few of the amenities here.

GRAND RAPIDS

Aberdeen Park (2230 Eastern Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505) If you have young ones in tow, this park offers a special playground area for toddlers.The park also features basketball courts, soccer fields, ball diamonds, and tennis courts for the sports enthusiast. Note: The water playground is currently under construction.

Frederik Meijer Gardens (1000 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525) This 158 acre campus is a must-see for residents and visitors alike. It features both indoor and outdoor gardens, a tropical conservatory, and nature trails winding through the grounds. The Lena Meijer Children’s Garden includes many attractions, including a tree house, water play area of the Great Lakes, an outdoor maze and much more. Indoor and outdoor is barrier free and handicap accessible. Admission fees apply.

Huff Park (2399 Ball Ave NE Grand Rapids, MI 49505) This unique park includes a small playground and ball fields, which may sound not so unique, but think again! While the park is located in a city neighborhood, it makes you feel like you’re stepping into the country with its 30 acre wetland boardwalk trail! It’s the perfect place to take a stroll and spot a variety of wildlife living right in the city! Note: The City of Grand Rapids plans to make upgrades to the boardwalk, bathroom, and playground areas during the summer of 2017.

John Ball Park (1300 W. Fulton St. Grand Rapids, MI 49504) Have a day planned at the zoo? Don’t forget the additional kid-friendly destination just outside of the zoo. The John Ball Park is within walking distance to the main entrance of the zoo and offers a playground to spend a few extra minutes of play.

Kroc Center (2500 S Division Ave, Grand Rapids, MI 49504) The outdoor campus is free and open to the public (when not being used for Kroc Center events and programs) and includes a playground with swings, slides and sand. Basketball courts, sand volleyball, soccer field, ball field, fishing pond and walking paths are also available.

JENISON

Eighth Avenue Park (7050 8th AvenueJenison, MI) This park features a lake, which offers a public beach for swimming, fishing, and a walking trail around the lake. A playground and pavilion are also part of the park’s landscape.

Hager Park (8134 – 28th Ave Jenison, MI 49428) This 104 acre family park is full of beautiful trails and picnic areas. Be sure to check out the park’s Age of Discovery community-built playground, which overlooks a terrain map of the United States.

Rosewood Park (1899 Rosewood Street, Jenison, MI 49426) This park is famous for it’s sledding hill and the large slip ‘n slide event held in the summer. A playground and soccer field are also available, in addition to a splash pad and a super tall play structure!

LOWELL

Fallasburg Park (1124 Fallasburg Rd. Lowell, MI 49331) This 56 acre park is perfect for playing and picnicking. The park is home to a stream and one of the area’s oldest covered bridges. Fallsburg park goes beyond just offering beautiful scenery and also includes a ball diamond, disc golf, hiking, nature trails, picnicking, playgrounds, and an enclosed shelter house.

Stoney Lakeside Park in Lowell (1200 Bowes, Lowell, MI 49331) If your fur baby likes to be included in your family outings, Stoney Lakeside Park is the right fit for your family. The Lowell Dog Park, at Stoney Lakeside Park, is a 31,000 square foot off-leash area, with spots for both small and large dogs.

Millennium Park (1415 Maynard Ave. SW, Walker, MI 49534) One of the nation’s largest urban parks, it is home to a beach and splashpad, boat rental facilities, a playground, and fishing. With trails totaling 18 miles, there are many opportunities for exploration throughout the park.

WYOMING

Palmer Park (1275 52nd Street SW Wyoming, MI 49509) Great for enjoying the outdoors, this park is home to many trails, letting visitors explore the wetlands and other areas of the park. Kaufman golf course, which is part of Palmer Park, is another bonus. Two large play structures, ball diamonds, fishing, and many opportunities for picnicking are at this park.

Lamar Park (2561 Porter St SW, Wyoming MI 49519) This park is home to many special events in the community. It’s attractions include a splashpad, climbing wall and playground equipment. There are also volleyball, tennis and basketball courts, soccer and softball fields, and a baseball field with grandstand.

Pinery Park (2301 DeHoop Ave, Wyoming, MI 49509) At this park, the enclosed lodge and park area (not shelter and picnic area) are open all year round. A playground, ball fields, tennis courts, basketball courts and a fitness trail keep this park busy.

ZEELAND

Helder Park (3751 104th Ave, Zeeland, Michigan 49464) This 159-acre park has something for everyone! Fido is welcome at the dog park (which is open unless the ground is too wet) and the nature lovers will enjoy the northwest portion of the park, which is forested and has a stream. The park also hosts a picnic shelter, playground, two ball fields, and five soccer fields for recreational use.

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34 Comments

hello, i was wondering which of these playgrounds have a calisthenics park or set with them. If so would that be a possible project for the future. I have a cousin coming for a few weeks and I’m trying to find one of these calisthenics sets or parks for him.

Just went to Danish kingdom park in Greenville and was not impressed at all. Has not been kept up very well. The description on this site makes it sound like a great park but honestly it’s a little ran down.

Cherry Park is amazing! Small splash pad, restroom, and a stone’s throw from The Parlor ice cream shop, which is open late afternoon and does a generous kiddie-sized scoop. Highland Park and Fuller Park also have great splash pads and restrooms.

Richardson.Sowerby park should be on the list for Rockford. It’s right off the White Pine Trail near the Rogue River. There’s also some covered picnic areas, bathroom facilities, and it’s so close to all the fun in downtown Rockford. Also missing from the list is Morley Park in Cedar Springs!

We live in Jenison and our favorite is 8th Ave Community Park. It has a nice playground, 1mile paved trail around lake and a clean beach for swimming. Basketball courts and bathrooms with a covered pavilion with a ton of picnic tables.
Also, Rosewood Park in Jenison is under construction now and they are adding a larger playground, splash pad and bathrooms. It’s already a soccer field/sledding hills with a small play area. It’s at 18th and Rosewood Ave.